16 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022
T
he Metro Detroit Jewish
community reacted with
grief, shock and horror
as well as an outpouring of
generosity as it learned about
the Sept. 11 murder of longtime
Jewish Senior Life employee
Tina Lanis, 56, by her husband,
Igor Lanis, 53, who was fatally
shot by police when he fired
at them outside of the family’s
Walled Lake home.
Igor also killed the family dog
and shot his daughter, Rachel
Lanis, 25, who is recovering in
the hospital from shots to her
spine and legs. The couple’s
younger daughter, Rebecca, 21,
who was visiting a friend at the
time of the murder and not at
home, has told multiple media
outlets that her father’s behavior
had radically changed since
the 2020 election, and he had
immersed himself in conspiracy
theories he had found on the
internet. Both the sisters are
alumnae of Hillel Day School in
Farmington Hills.
“Jewish Family Service’s crisis
support team mobilized as soon
as we heard the news and have
already been able to provide
some outreach in the commu-
nity and provide crisis interven-
tion and support,
” said Jewish
Family Service youth mental
health coordinator Julia Cohen,
who is one of the co-leaders of
the team.
News of Tina’s murder hit
especially hard among staff and
clients at Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit, where she
worked for the past 16 years as
a certified occupancy specialist,
providing the Russian-speaking
residents assistance with rental
applications and govern-
ment-required documenta-
tion, according to JSL CEO
Nancy Heinrich.
“We informed our staff
of her sudden and trag-
ic passing and provided
Trauma Response Team
Intervention counseling
to staff and residents
through the generosity
of Jewish Family Service,
”
said Heinrich. “Tina was a
much-beloved employee. Her
professionalism, compassion
and warmth were appreciated
by all her co-workers and res-
idents, who considered her a
trusted friend and essential sup-
port. She will be sorely missed
by all.
”
To offset the medical bills
and other expenses the sis-
ters will endure as they cope
with the violent death of both
their parents, the family set
up a GoFundMe page that, at
press time, has received more
than $55,000 in donations,
including a $1,000 donation
from the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
Donations can be made on the
GoFundMe website.
On the page, Rebecca Lanis
wrote: “On Sept. 11, 2022, I lost
my mother, father and dog in
a fatal shooting perpetrated by
my father. My older sister was
seriously wounded and remains
in the hospital. She was shot in
the spine and the back of her
legs, and doctors are unsure
if she will ever be able to walk
again. Any support provided
will assist me in paying my sis-
ter’s medical bills and will help
us get back on our feet after this
horrific tragedy.
”
Federation CEO Steven
Ingber described the tragedy as
“a heartbreaking incident” and
extended deepest condolences
to the Lanis family.
“Federation has contributed
to the GoFundMe campaign.
We also reached out to the
family, through our partners
at (JFS) to help. JFS resources
are available to anyone who is
affected by this tragedy. No one
should feel alone in trying to
process this shocking situation,
”
Ingber said.
According to reports from
Oakland County Sheriff Mike
Bouchard, county law enforce-
ment officials joined Walled
Lake Police responding to a
shots-fired call from Glenwood
Court in Walled Lake around
4:11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. The
caller was later identified as
Rachel, who told dispatchers
her father had just shot
her and her mother
Tina. Emergency dis-
patchers arrived at the
scene within five min-
utes.
As they were on foot
in the area, deputies
heard a gunshot and
approached the house. Igor
exited from the front door and
fired at a Walled Lake officer
with a Remington 870 shotgun,
striking a marked patrol car,
another vehicle and a resi-
dence behind him. No one was
injured from those shots. A
Walled Lake officer and a sher-
iff’s deputy returned fire and
killed Igor.
Tina was found dead inside
the home and had been shot at
least four times with a handgun.
Buchard’s office continues
to investigate. As part of this
ongoing investigation, they are
seeking insight into what trig-
gered the violence.
At the home, detectives
retrieved the cell phone and
other electronic devices belong-
ing to Lanis to see if they help
determine a possible motive.
On a telephone interview
with the JN, Oakland County
Sherriff Communications
Officer Steven Huber said he
could not comment on whether
more guns were in the home
or whether the father legally
purchased the gun or had a gun
permit owner’s license.
Anyone finding difficulty grieving or
coping with the trauma of this tragedy
can contact the JFS Resource Center at
(248) 592-2313. To donate to the family,
visit https://tinyurl.com/mtzyee4p.
OUR COMMUNITY
Community rushes to support surviving daughters in recent shooting.
Tragedy in Walled Lake
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Rachel Lanis had recently started
writing for the Jewish News. Her first
essay, published in July, is titled “The
Jewish Dilemma.” Read it at https://
thejewishnews.com/2022/07/28/
essay-the-jewish-dilemma.
Rachel and Rebecca Lanis